Koh Samui's Best Thai Cooking Classes (Kid-Friendly!)

Every so often we get emailed questions from our lovely readers. The vast majority relate to (A) packing (B) Angthong Marine Park and (C) bird-watching and we typically have a ready answer. (Guys, quick tip – it's all in The Koh Samui Guide!) Sometimes, though, we’re put back to square one and have to research an answer from the ground up.

Koh Samui cooking classes

One such reader has sent us back to the drawing board on two occasions now. Last year, she asked us a few questions for her first trip to Samui – sorted out no problem. Recently, for a return visit, she asked us about Koh Samui cooking classes at hotels that could involve children. Um... we can rattle off great hotels and Koh Samui cooking classes in our sleep – but as for specifics and age-appropriateness? You’ve got us there! Off we went for quality time with yet another spreadsheet. (Just in case you think Koh Samui blogging means non-stop coconut elixirs – not so. It means a lot of Excel).

‍Koh Samui hotel cooking classes: Below, find eight Koh Samui cooking classes listed in descending order of price. Note that "++ prices" exclude government taxes (7%) and hotel service charge (typically 10%) – double check when booking.

‍Do we have to be hotel guests?‍

No, not at the hotels listed below. All of the cooking classes below welcome non-guests (staying elsewhere) to participate. During high-occupancy periods (like Songkran, Christmas, New Year) classes might only be available to hotel guests – always worth asking though. Repeat: All of the following Koh Samui cooking classes welcome non-guests (staying elsewhere) to participate – but, as you'll see, they're a best-of-the-best superlative list and you'll want to stay at all of them. Eight nights in eight hotels? It's probably been done. Enjoy!

1. InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort

‍What's cooking? A 70-minute Thai cooking class, with a prior market tour and ingredients introduction (approximately 3 hours total including a market visit and cooking class, with lunch to follow). Dishes might include rice, noodles, curries, soups and Thai salads. For a specific dish, please make a special request when booking. First, take a chef-led tour of the local Si Fah morning market and fish market, and see coconut milk being made fresh. Return to the resort to learn about your freshly bought ingredients, then begin the cooking class. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards (with a glass of wine).

‍What you get: an InterContinental apron, recipe cards and cooking notes. Up to 8 people per class. Private cooking classes are also available.

‍Children: Kids aged 12+ are very welcome at InterContinental cooking classes. For younger children, learn about their superb kids’ club.

‍Time: 10:30 am daily in Amber restaurant (fully air-conditioned)

‍How to book a class: By phone or email at least 3 days in advance

2. Spice Spoons – Anantara Lawana, Chaweng

What's cooking? Choose 3 dishes from a menu of options, or make a special request (in advance). A class lasts approximately 3-4.5 hours, with lunch to follow. Every class includes learning to cook 3 dishes, a market tour, and Thai table-setting and leaf-folding lessons. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards (with a glass of wine). There are two packages and various menus to choose from, with the option to add more recipes (extra cost per dish). The latter includes ‘foodie sightseeing’ with the market tour, including visits to an organic farm and a coconut farm.

‍What you get: a Spice Spoons shopping bag containing a certificate, apron, chopping board and box of recipe cards. Group size: Between 2-8 people, as a private class.

‍Children: Children’s cooking classes are available for ages 5-12, with Italian (pizza), American (burger), and Thai (sticky rice and mango) options. See more details about Anantara Lawana with children.

‍Time: 10:45 am for the cooking class, or 9:30 am for the market tour, at Ocean Kiss restaurant

‍How to book a class? By phone or email to the concierge at least 24 hours in advance

3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Bang Po

If it's humanly possible to drag yourself away from this pool ... you must really love cooking (because you know they'll bring food to you, right?). What's on the Four Seasons menu? Dishes can be modified to include dietary preferences, and menus can be arranged to include your favourites. Approximately two hours, with lunch to follow. In addition to the cooking class, guests are introduced to the ingredients, and Chef teaches their preparation. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards.‍

What you get: Recipes card and KOH Cooking studio apron. Group size: Up to 5 people per class. Private classes are also available.

‍Children: Kids 12 and up are very welcome. (For younger children, see Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui’s incredible range of kids’ activities – they won’t want to join you!)

‍Time: 2pm daily, except Wednesday and Sunday (and special events) at KOH Cooking studio – indoors and fully air-conditioned

‍How to book a class? By phone or email at least 1 day in advance (with a minimum of 2 guests)

4. The Tongsai Bay, near Choeng Mon

What's cooking? Learn to cook 5 dishes including an appetiser, curry, soup, main dish and Thai dessert. Approximately 2 hours' cooking, with lunch to follow. The menu differs by day (Tuesdays include Pad Thai and Fridays include red curry). Ingredients can be adjusted to meet dietary requirements but the menu can’t be altered. For private classes, special requests can be considered (further ingredient costs may be incurred). Invite a friend to join you for lunch after class in Chef Chom’s Thai restaurant (no extra charge) to “eat the results”. Before class, tour The Tongsai Bay's organic produce farm and spice garden.

‍Group size: A maximum of 6 people per class. Private classes are available depending on Chef’s availability and require a minimum of 2 people. Garden tours are on request and take approximately 1 hour, at no extra cost. What you get: A special recipe cook booklet, photographs and certificate of achievement signed by Chef Eak.

‍Children: Children 12 and under are welcome to observe but, for safety reasons, can’t participate (seen the cleavers involved in Thai cooking!?). Children 13+ are very welcome with an accompanying adult. As at Six Senses, Tongsai Bay has brilliant babysitters – perhaps you can time a cooking class to a younger child’s nap-time?

‍Time: 12:30 pm every Tuesday and Friday (except on special event dates) on the shady terrace of Chef Chom’s Thai Restaurant

‍How to book a class? By phone or email as early as possible please

5. Banyan Tree Samui, near Lamai

What's cooking? Local dishes include a Thai salad, soup and green curry. Classes are approximately 2 hours. For a specific dish, please make a special request when booking. In addition to the cooking class, you can add a guided market trip to the lesson (2 hours). Group size: Classes are ideally for 5 people or fewer, larger than that and cooking stations will be shared. By request, private classes can also be held at Saffron restaurant or, for large groups, a demonstration class on the outside terrace.

‍What you get: a certificate, a cookbook, and an apron.‍

Children: Children ages 5 and older are welcome, however, they’re invited to take a kids’ baking or pastry class more suited to their age level (see kids’ activities at Banyan Tree Samui). Chef voices concern about hot pots and knives around small children: this might be a polite Thai way of saying "please don’t bring five-year-olds into my steaming, burning, fiery kitchen – how about some nice, safe pizza dough?"

‍Time: Daily (except on special event dates) at The Edge restaurant – indoors and fully air-conditioned.

‍How to book a class? By phone or email as early as possible please

6. Six Senses Samui, near Choeng Mon

What's cooking? Choose any 3 dishes from a menu of salad, soup, stir-fry, curry and dessert options (24 options total). For a specific dish, please make a special request when booking. Approximately 2 hours with lunch to follow. Receive an introduction to your ingredients, a chef’s demonstration, then on to the cooking lesson. Guests are welcome to tour the hotel's mushroom hut (!) and the hotel garden. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards.

‍Group size: Private classes only – up to 10 people per class (if cooking the same menu), otherwise a maximum of 6 people per class. Take home a certificate and a cookbook.

‍Children: Yes! Children ages 4 and up can join in – their participation depends on the menu and parents’ preferences (whether they’re allowed to use knives at home, what they’re familiar with in terms of helping…). See more on Six Senses Samui with kids.

‍Time: 1 pm daily (except on special event dates) at Dining on the Hill restaurant – open air (fan-cooled in very hot weather)

‍How to book a class? By phone or email at least 3 days in advance (especially if you have special menu requests).

7. Spice Spoons – Anantara Bophut, Bophut

What's cooking? Classes cover 3 dishes of your choosing (from a choice of 16 dishes). Approximately 2.5 hours with lunch to follow (4.5 hours for a market tour). Various packages are available, with the option to add more recipes (extra cost per dish). Special dishes not on the menu must be requested in advance and depends on the chef’s availability. The ‘standard’ cooking class includes a tour of the hotel garden. In addition, you can choose to add a guided market tour and fruit/vegetable carving class in the lily pond garden. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards.

‍Group size: Between 2-12 people. As best as is possible, classes are arranged to be private to give you chance to customise your own menu.

‍What you get: A Spice Spoons shopping bag containing a certificate, apron, chopping board and box of recipe cards.

‍Children: Children 12 and older are welcome (providing they are tall enough to use the equipment). See more on Anantara Bophut with children.

‍Time: 11:30 am daily or 9:00 am with a market tour (except on special event dates) at Spice Spoons show kitchen (fan-cooled in very hot weather)

‍How to book a class? By phone or email to the concierge at least 24 hours in advance

8. Belmond Napasai, Maenam

What's cooking? 3 dishes, a starter, soup and main course, chosen from a menu of 25 options. Approximately one hour with lunch to follow. For a specific dish not on the menu, please make a special request when booking. In addition to the cooking class, guests have an introduction to Thai herbs and spices, with a chef-led garden tour around the Secret Garden area. The food you cook is served as lunch afterwards.

‍Group size: 5-6 people per class. Bigger groups can be divided and have their class at the same time. Private classes are also available.

‍What you get: A certificate, an apron and “a lot of positive emotions about [your] new experience”.

‍Children: Young children can take a Pastry Chef class in the bakery. Older children are welcome to join in Thai cooking classes. Get to know Belmond Napasai’s totally family-friendly ethos.

‍Time: Any day of the week (with 1 day’s advance booking), in Napasai’s shaded Secret Garden (fans can be set up, on request)

‍How to book a class? By phone or email at least one day in advance

Live to eat?

Don't miss all the expertise you need to eat your way around Koh Samui, if not Thailand entirely:

• The Koh Samui Guide
• Where to Eat on Koh Samui
• Koh Samui's Most Sensational Sausage Rolls
• The World’s Best Beach Restaurant Is on Koh Samui
• Thai Beer 101: Singha, Chang and Other Thai Beer to Try

Still hungry?

Tip: Find dozens of Koh Samui activities for kids (and roughly a thousand safety tips) in The Koh Samui Guide.